Gerald Lomaventema Circular Overlay Earrings

$ 210.00

Award-winning Hopi silversmith Gerald Lomaventema handcrafted these bold sterling silver earrings in an elegant demonstration of the signature Hopi silversmithing technique of overlay. The striking earrings are crafted in a contemporary circular shape and feature highly stylized waveforms representing rain and clouds. Known for his superior craftsmanship, Lomaventema has created a sculptural piece that showcases the beauty and artistry of Hopi overlay. With their contemporary shape and all-sterling design, these dangle earrings are a versatile and flattering complement to your Native American jewelry collection.

Earrings handcrafted by Gerald Lomaventema (Hopi Pueblo)

Sterling silver

Overlay

Shepherd’s hook ear wires

Earrings measure 1-5/8” long x 1” wide

Comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity

Handcrafted works of Native American art require special care. For more information about proper care and cleaning, please read our Care Guide.

Gerald Lomaventema is a Hopi silversmith known for his one-of-a-kind contemporary jewelry pieces handcrafted using traditional overlay and tufa casting techniques. His father, Jerry Honwytewa, was a jeweler working in the traditional overlay style, and Lomaventema began creating his own beautiful overlay jewelry after taking classes at the Hopi Co-Op Guild in 1987. His designs are drawn from what he sees around him on the Hopi Reservation’s Second Mesa in northeastern Arizona, including kachina dances, petroglyphs, the planting of corn and prayers for rain. Using sterling silver, 14k gold and gemstones, Lomaventema creates highly textured, sculptural bolo ties, belts and pins that are admired and collected around the world. See Featured Artist Page

The Southwest is known for the beauty and drama of its landscapes, from red rock canyons and rolling deserts, to expansive blue skies and shimmering sunsets. The Native Americans who have lived here for thousands of years have a deep connection to and respect for this natural world, and their reverence for nature deeply influences their art. Some of the most common nature-inspired designs and symbols are water, rain, clouds, corn, mountains and animals. For Native Americans, nature is a gift from the Creator and in their unique, handcrafted works of art they celebrate this incredible gift.

In the decades just
before and after World War II, Hopi silversmiths developed their own sophisticated jewelry technique called overlay, which involves soldering together two pieces of metal. The artist begins by tracing a design onto a sheet of silver then saws out the design by hand, a difficult process requiring a high level of skill. The top piece is soldered to another layer of silver, and the bottom layer is oxidized to create a beautiful contrast with the highly polished top layer. Designs and patterns often incorporate traditional symbols, including sun, water, cornstalks, bear claws and the kokopelli. The overlay technique creates highly dimensional and detailed jewelry that demonstrates the remarkable craftsmanship of Hopi and Native American silversmiths.

At Shumakolowa Native Arts, we guarantee that your purchase is an original and authentic work handcrafted by Native American artists as defined by the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. We ask our artists to complete an extensive certification process, providing a CIB (Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood) card and other documentation of their Native American heritage. Our team of experts carefully inspects every product to guarantee it is handcrafted using traditional, sustainable processes and natural materials of only the highest quality. We record the place and date of each purchase and pride ourselves in paying a fair price that allows artists to make a living practicing their craft. Every work of handcrafted art comes with a Certificate of Authenticity signed by an artist or buyer. At a time when many commercially-made products are being sold as handcrafted Native American art, our in-depth purchase process allows us to guarantee the authenticity of every unique piece of fine art we offer. For more than 35 years, we have made it a priority to visit artists in their studio or home to purchase their latest handcrafted pieces and learn about their work. We have developed lasting relationships with artists, as well as dealers and collectors, and we take pride in being a trusted destination for fine Native American art.